Wenger Laments “Suicidal” Gunners

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger accepts his side’s “suicidal” defending has left them with a mountain to climb in the Champions League. There was no happy reunion with Monaco, who Wenger guided to the Ligue 1 title in 1988, as the Gunners failed to fire and were punished as Olivier Giroud had a night to forget, missing several good chances.

A 25-yard deflected effort from Geoffrey Kondogbia put Monaco ahead on 38 minutes and, after Giroud had spurned another two great chances to get his side level, former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov crashed in a second on the break. Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, returning from a groin injury, grabbed Arsenal a lifeline in stoppage-time, but as the Gunners went in search of an equaliser, they were dealt a hammer blow in the break again as Yannick Carrasco slotted past David Ospina, and the boos rang out around the Emirates Stadium at full-time.

“We were not at the level defensively and we were a bit unlucky as well because the first goal is deflected. On the second and the third goal we were suicidal,” said Wenger.